Illinois Businessman Sentenced to 5 Months for Asbestos Violations

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Franklin “Al” Bieri, age 54, purchased what used to be the Emerson Electric Facility site in 2010 located in the Washington Park neighborhood of East St. Louis, Illinois.

Bieri hired untrained, unlicensed workers to remove materials containing asbestos from the buildings on the seven-acre campus.

However, because the workers were not properly trained on how to remove the materials containing asbestos, they did not know the right steps so that the asbestos fibers would not be released in the removal process. In addition, when they bagged the materials containing asbestos they did not label it and, as a result, it was not properly disposed. To make matters worse, Bieri did not notify the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency like he was supposed to that workers would be removing asbestos materials.

Due to the violations, Bieri will serve five months in prison and three months in house arrest. He will also pay a $3,000 fine.

Officials involved in the asbestos lawsuit say that the motivation for the Illinois businessman was money.

“This well-heeled businessman tried to save a few bucks by sending in untrained and improperly protected people, then had them dispose of this dangerous material improperly, exposing unsuspected landfill workers,” said U.S. Attorney Steve Wigginton in a statement. “This conduct is breathtaking, literally.”

The trial took place at the U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois. Chief Judge David R. Herndon presided over the asbestos lawsuit. The decision was announced Monday, May 12.

Herndon said that they violations amounted to a “profoundly serious crime” and argued that Bieri put many lives at risk by his actions, including those who did the work.

The old asbestos found on the electric plant site can release fibers into the air that are dangerous to inhale. The most dangerous asbestos is friable asbestos, which is contained in fireproofing and various types of insulation. Inhaling asbestos ridden dust can result in tumors developing in the lungs.

Asbestos poisoning can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, digestive system cancer, and asbestosis. The problem with these dangerous asbestos side effects is that they can take 15 to 40 years for these diseases to develop.

Mesothelioma is most commonly tied to asbestos exposure. It is a rare cancer that forms in the thin tissue layer that surrounds the majority of internal organs called the mesothelium. It often infects the tissue that covers the lungs, called the pleura. It can also infect the tissue in the abdominal region, the heart, and the testicles. Mesothelioma is considered incurable even though there are treatments for available for it. Most patients die within 12 months of diagnosis.

If you or someone you know thinks that the lung cancer, mesothelioma, or other severe side effects from asbestos exposure, legal options are available to you. Learn more and get a free consultation regarding a claim’s eligibility at the Mesothelioma Asbestos Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation. Experienced legal professionals have access to medical experts to assess whether or not your lung cancer or mesothelioma is the result of asbestos exposure, so act now.